‘I saw no reason, when I wrote this book, why the very dregs of life, so long as their speech did not offend the ear, should not serve the purpose of a moral, at least as well as its froth and cream’ - Dickens’ response after he was severely criticized for introducing criminals and prostitutes into the novel.A fine copy, illustrated throughout with engravings by Cruikshank, and handsomely bound by Bayntun-Rivière in full red morocco. A gilt portrait of Dickens to the front and his signature in gilt to the rear. Raised bands, gilt lettering to spine. Inside gilt dentelles All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers.

Dickens literary output was prodigious. In slightly more than 30 years, he published more than twenty novels, acted as editor for a variety of literary journals, created his own magazine, worked as a freelance reporter, and executed a series of charismatic public readings. Oliver Twist was begun in February 1837 and continued as monthly installments in Bentley’s Miscellany until April of 1839. Dickens originally titled the novel Oliver Twist: The Parish Boy’s Progress but it has since been shorten to simply Oliver Twist.